Method and structure for discharging granular material



om. z2, 1968 W. J. CQNQVER 3,406,844

METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR DISCHARGING GRANULAR MATERIAL Original Filed Jan. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 liz 5 yffvk Oct. 22, 1968 vv. 1 CONQVER 3,406,844

METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR DISCHARGING GRANULAR MATERIAL Original Filed Jan. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffa/QAM 5 Sheets-Sheet Z5 OC- 22, 1968 w. J. coNoVER METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR DISCHARGING GRANULAR MATERIAL Griginal Filed Jan.

United States Patent O ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE vThis invention comprises apparatus and a method for discharging feed, lwhich apparatus includes a circular structure having a conical roof, with an upright post mounted centrally of the structure and engaging the roof at its center for providing the only support therefor, with a material holding hopper disposed about the post at the upper end thereof, the lower end being uidly connected with an inner end of a radially extended conveyor, the outer endof the conveyor having a frictional drive device engaged with the interior of the structure for moving the conveyor in a circular path about the post, with the feed material being discharged at the outer end of the conveyor; and the method including a simultaneous radial and annular movement of the feed from centrally of the circular structure, and with a part of the feed as it is discharged being caught, by means other than the feed itself, andwith that not caught falling on beyond the location of the first caught feed.

This is a divisional application of my copending application, Ser. No. 336,227, filed Ian. 7, 1964, and entitled, Farm Animal Feeding House, now Patent No. 3,229,663.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in raising livestock, and pertains particularly to a feed material handling method and structure.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved feed material handling method for discharging the material in a circular path.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel combination of elements making up an improved circular structural arrangement for the handling and discharging of a feed material. v

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the circular feeding house of this invention in assembled relation with a pair of bulk tanks;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the offset line 2 2 in FIG. l to show in fragmentary form both floors in plan view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the offset line 3 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the motorized end of the auger feed conveyor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line S-S in FIG. 4 and showing a pair of oifal detlecting shields below the second floor;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a second floor stall, with the stall partially broken away to show a portion of the first floor stall therebelow; and

FIG. 7 is a reduced sectional view showing the feeding house of this invention in elevation as seen substantially along a line across the diameter of the circular house.

.Referring to the drawings, the farm animal feeding house of this invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG.

CFI

1 and comprises basically a circular rst floor 11 (FIG. 7) having an annular sanitation trough 12 formed therein which is covered by a grate 13. An upstanding circular wall 14 of corrugated sheet steel or the like is mounted on the periphery of the floor 11, and a conical roof 16 is supported on the wall 14 for enclosing the feeding house 10.

Within the feeding house 10, a plurality of radial, arcuately spaced multi-story partitions, indicated generally in FIG. 3 at 17, form a plurality of radial, pie-shaped stalls for the farm animals. The stalls are divided by a second floor indicted generally at 18 in FIG. 3 whereby a plurality of upper stalls 19, 19a, 19h, 19C (FIGS. 2 and 7), etc., are formed as are a plurality of lower stalls 20, 20a, 20h, 26C, etc. The second floor 18 is spaced sufficiently above the first floor 11 so that the sows and their offspring can easily maneuver between the two floors. Furthermore, the second floor 18 is spaced sufficiently below the upper edges of the partitions 17 so that the depth of the second floor stalls 19 safely confine the sows there- Both floors 11 and 18 are provided with feed in a manner described in detail hereinafter by feed equipment indicated generally at 21 in FIG. 7, which equipment iS mounted on and rotates about a center post 22 for the feeding house 10. To enable the operator to view both iioors 11 and 18 simultaneously without changing his location, a cat walk assembly 23 (FIG. 7) is provided which cooperates with the circular wall 14 and the partitions 17 to also cover a confinable area 24 (FIG. 3) therebelow for separating the offspring from the sows if necessary for safety purposes.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, it is seen that the inner ends of the partitions and stalls form a line concentric with the floor 11 on the inner edge 30 of the trough 12, and form thereby a center service area 25 within which a plurality of radial gates 26, 27, 28, and 29 are mounted. Both the operator and the sows may enter the feeding house 10 through a door opening 31 in the wall 14, and through a passage 32 (FIG. 2) formed between a pair of partitions 17a and 17b. Upon opening a gate 33, the center service area 25 is thus accessible. Each lower stall 20, etc., is provided also with a swingable gate 34 (FIG. 7) for ingress and egress, with each upper stall 19, etc., having like gates 36 (FIGS. 2 and 7). As seen in FIG. 2, the gates 26-29, which swing about the center post 22 to positions contiguous with the lower gates 34, readily segment or compartmentize the service area 5 for maneuvering the animals as desired. One of the gates 29 is a ramp for providing an inclined structure to move the animals from the first floor 11 to the inner end of any second floor stall 19, etc. The ramp gate 29 is also rotatably secured to the center post 22 and is mounted on wheels 37 (FIG. 3) for rolling about the oor 11.

For the purpose of providing a continuous flow of water to each upper and lower stall, an automatic watering device 38 (FIG. 6) is mounted within each stall adjacent the inner end thereof, it being noted that each watering device 38 is directly over a first floor grate 13 and a similar grate 39 (FIGS. 3 and 6) for the second floor 18. The devices 38 are mounted in pairs (see FIG. 6), each pair leading off a vertical pipe 41 affixed to one side of a partition, :and with all water pipes 41 connected at their upper ends to an overhead pipe 42. The pipe 42 s supplied water by a flexible conduit 43 (FIG. 3) emerging from the center post 22. As the devices 38 supply water automatically upon demand by an animal, the watering system is entirely automatic, requiring but the usual service and maintenance from the operator.

The first floor 11 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and comprises a layer of concrete 44 above a sheet 46 of polyethelene or the like above a layer of gravel 47 on top 3 of the soil. At the outer peripheral edge, a slab of styrofoam 48 or the like is inserted beneath the sheet 46, and note a plurality of heating pipes 49 embedded in the concrete. The first floor 11 slopes downwardly, as best indicated in FIGS. 3 and 7, from its periphery to the trough 12, and then has a gradual upward incline at the central section 11 until it reaches an apex at the center post 22.

The sanitation trough 12, best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, has a V-shaped formation, is of a cross-section similar to the remainder of the fioor 11, and extends in an annular direction concentric with the center of the floor 11. A disposal trench 51 with a downwardly sloping bottom 52 leads off from the trough 12 beneath the floor 11 for depositing the offal and other wastes within a septic tank 53 or the like. Square shoulders S4 and 56 (FIG. 3) are provided about the upper inner and outer edges of the trough to provide support completely around the trough for the first floor grate 13.

Both the first floor grate 13 and the second floor grate 39 (FIG. 3) are substantially identical, each comprising a series of sections of grating, each section 13a (FIG. 3) and 39a (FIG. 6) for example comprising the floor for a stall at its inner end. Each first floor grate section 13a (FIG. 3) includes a plurality -of inverted U-shaped slabs 57 laid in parallel, radial spaced arrangement whereby animal and other waste pass inbetween the slabs 57. The lengths of the slabs 57 gradually decrease to accommodate the pie-shape of the stalls. Angle irons 58 are provided at the inner and outer ends of the grate section 13a for support on the concrete shoulders 54 and 56, and the ends of the slabs 57 and the angle irons 58 are all secured as by welding to another pair of angle irons 59 (FIG. 3, only one showing).

The second floor grate section 39a (FIGS. 3 and 6) also has a pluraliy of slabs 57 secured in a parallel, radi- 5 ally spaced arrangement and with their ends secured to a pair of angle irons 59. These angle irons 59 are secured to the pair of angle irons 58 secured in turn to pairs of posts 61, 62 (FIG. 6) in adjacent rows of posts for the partitions 17.

Each partition 17 (FIGS. 3 and 6), in addition to the radially spaced posts 61 and 62, includes another pair of radially spaced posts 63 and 64, all posts substantially equally spaced and on one radius. The innermost post 61 is mounted on the first door 11 just inside the trough 12, lwith the next post 62 mounted just outside the trough 12. Posts 61-63 are of substantially identical height with the outer post 64 extended upwardly to engage and support va portion 66 of the roof 16 (FIG. 3).

The partition 17 also includes a plurality of fence sections 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73. All fence sections are substantially identical, each having end members 74 adapted for securement to bolts 76 secured to the posts. Referring to FIG. 3, it is noted that the fence section 70 is secured at its outer end to the wall 14. In each instance, a fence section is mounted with its lower edge 7 7 just above the surface of the floor to prevent the offspring from moving from one stall to another. Needless to say, this safety and confining feature is maintained throughout the feeding house 10. Y

Referring to FIG. 2, it is seen that by arcuately and equally spacing each row of posts and fence sections which combine to form the stalls extended inwardly from the wall 14 and ending at a location radially spaced from the center post, all of the stalls are pie-shaped, radially extended and arcuately contiguous, cooperating with the wall 14 and the first floor 11 to provide a utilization of space of the highest degree. This utilization of space is even more enhanced by the provision of the second floor y18 (FIG. 3) substantially complementary to the first floor 11 and bisecting the partitions 17 to provide the upper and lower stalls, 19, etc., and 20, etc., respectively.

Specifically, the second fioor 18 is divided into sections one for each stall, and which include in addition to the second licor grate 39 (FIG. 6) a pie-shaped panel 78 adapted to be bolted to'a plurality of radial and arcuate angle irons 79 and 81 secured to and extended between the three pairs of posts 62-64 each. Radial edges 82 and 83 of adjacent panels overlap for bolting purposes, and it will be noted that the outer edge 84 ofthe panel is spacedy radially inwardly from the outer posts 64 to leave an opening in the second floor 18 at the rear end of each upper stall 19, etc.

This opening 85, for feeding purposes as seen hereinafter, is filled with a grate 86 bolted to an angle iron 81 and to another angle iron 87 secured to the posts 64. The grate 86 fills the feed -opening 85 sufficiently to prevent an animal from falling therethrough, but also leaves sufficient space to permit granular feed to pass therethrough from above the second floor 18. .To ensure that the feed discharged from the feed equipment 21 above the second ioor does pass downwardly through the grate 86, a panel 88 (FIGS. 3 and 6) is secured in anupstanding manner between the posts 64, and which extends from substantially the top edge 89 of the fence section 67 downwardly slightly below the grate 86 (see FIG. 3). Thus, the panel 88 acts to deflect and direct granular material downwardly through the grate 86 for a purpose described hereinafter.

Beyond the panel 88, a plurality of which act to form a complete circular-type enclosure about the outer ends of the upper stalls 19, etc., is the cat walk assembly 23 mentioned hereinbefore. Similar to the other stall elements which combine to form an entire individual stall capable of confining a sow and subsequently her offspring, the cat walk assembly 23 is made up of a plurality of U-shaped fioor sections 91 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Each fioor section 91 is Zrapezoidal in that the inner and outer edges 92 and 93, respectively (see FIG. 6) are parallel and tangential to a radius of the house 10, and with the end edges 94 and 96 radially extended.

A radially extended angle iron 97 is secured at opposite ends to the wall 14 and to the outer post 64 to provide support for adjacent ends of adjacent door sections 91. The two outer corners of each cat walk oor section 91 are secured to a bracket unit 98 affixed to the wall 14 which enables each floor section 91 to be pivoted at the bracket units 98. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 3, each floor section 91 is movable from a generally horizontal position wherein the edges `are extended over the outer fence sections 70 of a pair of adjacent partitions 17, to a raised position as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3. l

Cooperable with each cat walk floor section 91 is an individual, relatively flat fence section 99 (FIG. 6) having a width enabling it to be shovedv downwardly between a pair of adjacent posts 64, and within a space defined between the floor section inner edge 92 and the angle iron 87. The fence section 99has a height whereby it can extend from the surface of the oor 11 to the top edge 101 of the first floor portion fence sections 71. The provision of the adjustably raisable fence section 99 cooperates with a pair of partition fence sections 70, the wall 14, and a cat walk floor section 91 to form an enclosure 102 (FIG. 7) for the offspring at the outer end ofeach lower stall 20, etc. Thus the section 99 can be raised to permit the offspring to pass back and forth from the enclosure 102 into the remainder of the lower stall. This enclosure 102 can of course be provided with an overhead lamp (not shown) for heat purposes and is directly over the heat pipes 49 (FIG. 3).

Feed is supplied to the feed equipment 21 from external the feeding house 10 by an auger system 103 (FIG. 1) leading from a mix-mill housing 104, beneath a pair of bulk feed tanks 106 and 107, upwardly over the roof line for discharge through a spout 108 into a funnel-type hopper unit 109 (FIG. 7). The hopper unit 109 is mounted on the center post 22, as is an umbrella structure 111 used in supporting the roof as illustrated in FIG. 7, and supplies feed to a downwardly inclined auger feed conveyor 112 rotatably mounted at its inner end to the lower end of the hopper unit 109.

The auger 113 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is rotated by a motor 114 mounted on the outer end of the conveyor 112, via a pulley belt system. A reversible motor (not shown) is also mounted adjacent the motor 114 for rotating a wheel 116 (FIG. 4), aixed to the end of the conveyor 112, in opposite directions. As the wheel 116 rotates against a track 117, a friction drive is obtained upon rotating the wheel 116 for rotating the conveyor 112 about the center post 22. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, it is seen that the radial length of the conveyor 112 is such that it extends completely over all the upper and lower stalls 19 and 20.

A spout 118 is provided at the outer end of the conveyor 112 for discharging feed downwardly toward the second floor Vfeed opening grate 86. As seen in FIG. 3, this feed passes on through the grate 86 and is deposited on the oor 11. To supply feed to the second floor 18, the conveyor 112 is provided with a slidable discharge unit 119 mounted inwardly of the spout 118 and controlled by a lever 121 adapted to be reached by the operator while on the cat walk assembly 23. The arrangement is such that manipulation of the lever 121 can selectively regulate both ows of feed through the spout 118 and the discharge unit 119 as to quantity. Thus, selective and concurrent supplying of feed to both iioors is provided by the feed equipment. It is furthermore envisioned that the motors can be so controlled that automatic feeding of selected stalls can be obtained.

Referring primarily to FIG. 3, the circular wall 14 of the feeding house is preferred of a double thickness construction with slabs of styrofoam 122 or the like therebetween Ifor insulation purposes. Styrofoam 123 is also afxed to the underside of the roof 16, beneath a plurality of channels 124 whereby to form an air space, with a skylight unit arranged around the periphery of the roof. This consists of a plurality of slabs 126 of styrofoam hingedly connected to an angle iron 127 or the like at the top of the wall 14, and adjustably connected as by a chain 128 to an element 129 aixed to the outer ends of the channels 124.

For providing fresh air to the interior of the feeding house 10, one or more air inlet scoops 133 (FIG. l) are mounted on the roof 16. Air entering through the scoops 133, is directed between the roof 16 and the styrofoam 123 downwardly `toward a plurality of chambers 131 formed by the sky-light unit described hereinbefore. Thus, the amount of air entering the house 10 can be seasonably controlled, by pulling up or letting down the slabs 126. When the slabs are pulled completely up against the roof 16, the air chambers 131 are closed for all practical purposes against the passage of fresh air therethrough and into the house 10. One or more exhaust fan housings 132 (FIG. l) are secured in the wall 14 for exhausting air from the feeding house 10. The operation of these fan housings 132 may either be manual or automatic as desired.

Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed herein, modifications and alternate constructions are envisioned. For example, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of animal waste deector panels 134 and 136 are illustrated in assembled relation between an adjacent pair of second floor grates 39. Each panel has an upright ange 137 secured to one of the side angle irons 59 intermediate two stalls; the panels then diverge each toward an opposite side of one of the stalls where their lower edges 138 are removably secured. Thus, animal waste which falls through either upper grate 39 does not fall straight down into the stall therebelow, but is delected to one side of each stall, the waste thus falling through the lower grate 13 closely adjacent a partition fence section 73.

It is therefore to be remembered that modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A granular material handling apparatus comprising in combination:

a circular upstanding Wall;

a conical roof mounted on said wall;

an upright post mounted centrally of said wall and engaging said roof at its center for the only support thereof other than said wall;

a material holding hopper mounted on and disposed completely about said post;

an elongated conveyor rotatably mounted at one end to said post and disposed to receive material from said hopper into said one end for movement to its other end, said conveyor other end rotatably engaged with said wall whereby said conveyor is movable in a circular path around said post, said other end adapted to discharge the material therefrom; and

said wall having a horizontally disposed endless track mounted thereon, and a frictional drive unit mounted on said conveyor other end in engagement with said track, said drive unit operable to move said conveyor arcuately in either direction about the said inner one end thereof.

2. The process of distributing granular material within an enclosure having at least a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed feeding levels, with the uppermost feeding level having an annular opening formed therein and a grate device disposed Within the opening, the process comprising the following steps:

transporting the material from a central location outwardly in a radial path therefrom and dumping the material at the outer end of the radial path;

moving the material as it is being transported in the radial path in an annular direction such that the material being dumped is moved about an annular path; and

catching and retaining some of the material at one location on one feeding level below its dumped loca tion, with that material not caught falling past the catching location to a lower feeding level.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,068 8/1896 Dornfeld 214--17 1,615,334 1/ 1927 MacGregor. 2,587,854 3/1952 Johnson 214-16 3,145,855 8/1964 Plugge 214--17 3,175,668 3/ 1965 Stoltzfus 214--17 X 3,197,044 7/1965 Hozak 216-16 ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Primary Examiner. 

